Kester, Cepel earn conference medals

A sunny day and cooler temperatures provided plenty of opportunity for Bobcat cross country competitors to showcase their abilities, Friday, at the Niobrara Valley Conference meet at the Atkinson-Stuart Country Club.

The Lady Cats finished fifth, finishing with 48 points. West Holt claimed the team title, scoring 15 points, edging out runner-up Elkhorn Valley by one point.

Neligh-Oakdale finished fourth, with 39 points; CWC, placed sixth, with 52 points and Niobrara/Verdigre ended sevenith, with 62 points.

Aislynn Kester was the lone Bobcat medalist for the girls' team. She ran 22.59.65, finishing 10th.

Carlee Livingston ran the course in 24:36.25, ending 19th. Senior Danielle Schrunk ran 26:02.43, placing 26th and Shaylie Kester ended 31st, running 27:16.95.

West Holt won the boys' team title, finishing with 16 points. North Central received the runner-up trophy, with 18 points. Boyd County and Elkhorn Valley tied for third, scoring 27 points, and Niobrara/Verdigre rounded out the top five, with 49 points.

Raden Orton won the individual title, finishing in 17:17.40.

The Thiele brothers finished seconds apart from one another. Alex placed 24th, running 21:25.88, while Jesse ended in 25th place, with a time of 21.37.98.

One junior high runner brought a medal home from the last meet of the middle school season.

Zander Cepel finished seventh, running 7:31.63.

Jorden Cox finished 18th, running 11:28.45.

Stuart won the junior high boys' team title, scoring 13 points.

CWC ended second, with 15 points and North Central scored 17 points to finish third.

West Holt won the junior high girls' title, finishing with six points.

The Bobcats did not field a junior high girls' team.

The high school teams will compete in the Class D4 district, Oct. 13, at the Ainsworth Country Club. The top 15 individual runners will earn a trip to the state meet, Oct. 21, in Kearney.